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Washington, D.C. – In a narrow vote, the House of Representatives passed a budget that places health coverage at risk for millions of American families. The budget authorizes later congressional action to finance trillions of dollars of tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthy and large corporations by potentially cutting Medicaid, Medicare, financial assistance for private insurance, and other core safety-net programs. It also authorizes a $1.5 trillion increase in the deficit that undermines the financial security of the nation and long-term sustainability of these programs.

Following is the statement of Frederick Isasi, executive director of Families USA, on the House of Representatives’ decision to approve the budget resolution:

“Congressional Republicans’ willingness—with almost no debate—to set aside their eight-year mantra of deficit reduction and agree to a budget that includes the prospect of a startling 1.5 trillion dollar increase in the federal deficit poses a very real threat to health care programs, safety-net programs, and the financial security of the nation.

"A massive tax cut that explodes federal debt opens the door to future cuts. When that happens, Medicaid, support for private health insurance for working families, and Medicare will be prime targets that Congress will use to plug the fiscal hole they have created. In fact, that fiscal hole would give Republican leadership more political cover to achieve what they were not able to do this fall: gut Medicaid and end the Affordable Care Act.”